Apparatus for applying viscous material in the forming of cables



Jan. 23, 1951 -A. L. LOUCKS ET AL APPARATUS FOR APPLYING VISCOUS MATERIAL IN THE FORMING 0F CABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 23, 1946 INVENTORS A.L. LOUGKS L.VV. L0

V TT BY j/ ATTORNEY I Jan. 23, 1951 -A. L LOUCKS ETAL 2,539,147

A APPARATUS FOR APPLYING VISCOUS MATERIAL IN THE FORMING 0F CABLES Filed May 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O Q k 3 l W a A I'M O P K o 9' L I g P a 3,

Q /Nl/ENTOR$ 8 B 9 AL. LOUCKS L.W LOVE TT A TTORNE Y I Patented Jan. 23, 1951 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING VISCOUSMA- TERIAL IN THE FORMING F CABLES Alton L. 'Loucks and Leroy W. Lovett, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 23, 1946, Serial No. 671,838

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for applying viscous materials to articles, and more particularly to apparatus for applying viscous plastic materials to continuously advancing cables.

In the manufacture of articles such as cables, sometimes a metallic strip is formed into a tube around a lead-sheathed cable, and a viscous cement is applied to the cable before the metallic strip is formed completely around the cable to waterproof and electrically insulate the cable. Machines for performing such functions are quite often heavy and lag somewhat in starting and stopping. In order to apply the cement uniformly to a cable around which metallic tape is being formed by such a machine, an applicator for applying the cement should be stopped and started in coordination with the operation of the entire machine. In the past, no means have been provided for closely coordinating the applicator with the rest of the machine.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for app y viscous materials to articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for applying viscous plastic materials to cables uniformly.

An apparatus forming one specific embodiment of the invention includes means for advancing a lead-sheathed cable along a predetermined path and an electric motor for driving the cable-advancing means. An applicator supplies viscous plastic cement to the cable as it is advanced by the cable-advancing means and includes a supply line having a valve therein for opening and closing the supply line. A pneumatic cylinder designed to open and close the valve is controlled by an air valve and a solenoid, which controls the air valve. The solenoid is controlled by a control circuit of the motor. When the motor is stopped, a timer in the control circuit deenergizes the solenoid at a predetermined period of time thereafter so that the auxiliary valve is actuated to cause the pneumatic cylinder to close the valve in the supply line of the applicator after the cableadvancing means coasts to a stop.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the V 1 Fig. 3 is a schematic view of an electrical control circuit, and

Fig 4 is a schematic view of an electric motor controlled by the control circuit shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a leadsheathed cable It is continuously advanced to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a capstan ll driven by an electric motor 82 (Fig. 4) through a line shaft 13 (Fig. i). As the cable i0 is advanced, a corrugated copper strip i5 is advanced therewith and is formed by forming rolls |6I6 into the shape of a U and an applicator H, which is disclosed. Copending application Serial No. 671,835, filed May 23, 1946, now Patent 2,494,050, granted January 10, 1950, discharges thermoplastic cement upon the cable It and into the U- shaped portion of the copper strip is. The strip 55 and the cable it then pass through forming rolls, of which a forming roll 2t is shown, which tuck an edge 21] of the strip it under an edge 22 thereof. As the cable and the strip it pass from the forming rolls 2020 they pass under forming rolls 2525, which press the edge 22 into overlapping engagement with the edge 20 of the strip. The to rolls 25-25 are driven through sprockets 26-26, a chain 2i and a gear reduction box 30. Other coverings are then applied over the formed copper strip 85 by the apparatus disclosed in above-mentioned Patent 2,494,050.

The applicator it includes a steam-jacketed melting kettle 35 in communication with a feed pipe 36 and a steam-jacketed constant displacement pump til, which is driven by the line shaft through gearing i0 and a chain (ii. The pump forces the viscous thermoplastic cement from the feed pipe 35 through a filter t2, and the cement passes from the filter through a supply pipe 45 connected to a passage it (Fig. 2) of a valve body M. A valve closure member ts having ends id and is connected by a piston rod 5! to a piston 52. A discharge passage directed at right angles to the passage it in the valve body 41 is in communication with an orifice 5? formed in a plug 56, which is threaded into a socket 58 formed in the valve body 41. A v-shaped divider 59 positioned directly below the discharge orifice 51 in the plug 56 divides the thermoplastic cement and guides it to opposite sides of the cable I 0 (Fig. 1). Steam in steam passages 60-60 heats the valve body '41 so that the cement does not congeal in the valve body.

The piston 52 (Fig. 2) is slldably mounted in a cylinder 8i, and when air under pressure is introduced to the left end or the cylinder 6!. as

48 is forced against a valve seat 62, and the closure member 48 closes the passage 46 in the valve body 41 from the discharge passage 55 therein. The closure member 48 is slidably mounted in a bushing 64 and when air under pressure is supplied to the right end of the cylinder 6i, the end 49 of the closure member 48 is moved into engagement with a valve seat 65 to open the passage 46to the discharge passage 55, but to prevent flow of the thermoplastic cement past the end 49 of the closure member 48 and the valve seat 65. A coupling plug 66 is threaded into a socket 61 formed in the valve body 41 and has a threaded head 69 thereon. A tubular projection 10 has a tapped portion 1|, and is screwed onto the threaded head 69 of the guide 66. The coupling plug and the projection 10 abut a gasket 12 and force the gasket 12 tightly against the valve body 41 to form a seal therewith.

A threaded boss 15 projects from an end 16 of the cylinder 6| having a bore 11 formed therein and is provided with a counterbore 80 in alignment with the bore 11, which guides the piston rod 5I. A cap 8I screwed onto the threaded boss 15 forces an annular plug 82 against a packing 85 positioned in the counterbore 80 to prevent escape of air from the cylinder 6| along the piston rod 5i.

An end 86 of the cylinder 6| has a tapped bore 81 therein in communication with a chamber 90 of the cylinder, which is provided with a tapped bore 9I near the end 86 thereof and a tapped bore 92 near the end 16 of the cylinder. A pipe 95 having an adjustable needle, reducing valve 96 therein is connected to one port of a fourway valve 99 of a solenoid valve assembly 91 of a well-known type, which is connected to a pipe 98 threaded into the tapped bore 9| in the cylinder 6|. The pipe 95 is connected to a by-pass pipe I00 having a check valve IOI therein. The pipe I00 is threaded into the tapped bore 81 in the end 86 of the cylinder. The check valve IOI prevents the flow. of air from the pipe 95 through the pipe I00 to the cylinder butpermits flow of the air in the opposite direction; A supply pipe I 02 leading from a supply of air under pressure is connected to a supply port oi. the four-way valve 99, and an exhaust pipe I05 is connected to anexhaust port of the four-way valve 99. A pipe I06 connected to another port of the fourway valve 99 has a valve I01 therein and is threaded into the tapped bore 92 in the cylinder 5|.

The solenoid valve assembly 91 includes a solenoid I09 for actuating the valve 99 to connect the supply pipe I02 to the pipe 95 and to simultaneously connect the exhaust pipe I05 to the pipe I06 when the solenoid is not energized. When the solenoid is energized, it actuates the four-way valve 99 to connect the pipe 95 to the exhaust pipe I05 and to simultaneously connect the supply pipe I02 to the pipe I06.

To start the capstan II. a switch IIO (Fig. 3) is closed. This closes a circuit from a conductor III of a power line to a conductor I I2 thereof as follows: conductors III and H3, the switch I I0, conductors H5 and H8, a relay winding H1 and conductors I 20 and I2I. When the relay winding H1 is energized, it closes a relay switch I22 (Fig. 4) whose contacts are in a three-phase power line I25 lead ng to the motor I2. This energizes the motor I2, which drives the line shaft I3 (Fig. 1) to drive the capstan II. the applicator I1 and the forming rolls 2525. The caps an II then advances the strip I5 and the cable I0 past the applicator I1.

When the switch IIO (Fig. 3) is closed, a relay winding I30 connected in parallel with the relay winding II1 by conductors I3I and I32 is energized, and closes a normally open relay switch I35 and opens a normally closed relay switch I36. When the relay switch I35 is closed, a relay winding I38 is energized and closes a switch I39 thereof. When the switch I39 is closed, a. solenoid winding I40 of the solenoid I09 (Fig. 2) is energized, which actuates the four-way valve 99 to connect the pipe I06 to the supply pipe I02 and to connect the pipe 95 to the exhaust pipe I05. Air under pressure then flows into the right end, as viewed in Fig. 2, of the chamber 90 in the cylinder SI and moves the piston 52 toward the left, and air is exhausted rapidly from the left end of the chamber 90 through the check valve IN and the pipe I00 to the pipe 95. Thus, the pipe I00 and the check valve IOI by-pass the reducing valve 96 when air is exhausted from the left end of the chamber 90 of the cylinder 6I so that the piston 52 rapidly moves the closure member 48 out of engagement with the valve seat 62 and into engagement with the valve seat 65. When this occurs, the thermoplastic cement flows through the passage 46 in the valve body 41 and the discharge passage in the valve body 41 and the orifice 51 formed in the block 56. The cement flows over the divider 59 into the U-shaped portion of the strip I5 (Fig. 1).

When the relay switch I36 is opened as described hereinabove, a solenoid winding I45 of a timer I46 is deenergized, which timer is of a well-known type and may be adjusted from a zero time delay to a time delay of a few minutes. This permits-the timer I46 to reset to zero and timer switches I41 and I48 close. The timer switch I41 is in parallel with the relay switch I35 and in series with the relay winding I38 so that when either of these switches is closed, the relay winding I38 is energized so that the switch I39 is closed and the solenoid winding I40 is energized. The timer switch I48 is in series with a' motor I49 of the timer I46, and the switch I46 and the motor I49 are in series with the relay switch I36 but are in parallel with the solenoid winding I45 of the timer I46.

To stop the apparatus, the switch I I0 is opened, which deenergizes the relay winding I I1 and the. relay winding I30. When the relay winding H1 is deenergized, the relay switch I22 opens and the main motor I2 is deenergized. When the relay winding I30 (Fig. 3) is deenergized, the relay switch I35 opens and the relay switch I36 closes. The opening of the relay switch I35 does not deenergize the relay winding I38 because the timer switch I41, which is in parallel with the relay switch I35, is closed. Hence, the switch I39 remains closed so that the solenoid winding I40 remains energized, and as the motor I2, the line shaft I3 and the capstan II coast to a stop, the

" solenoid winding I 40 is energized so that the valve stem 48 (Fig. 2) is held in its open position. When the relay switch I36 is closed, the motor I49 and the solenoid winding I45 of the timer I36 is again opened when the apparatus is restarted.

5 When the timer switch i4? is opened, the relay winding I38 is deenergized to open the switch I39, which deenergizes the solenoid winding I40. This causes the solenoid I 09 (Fig. 2) to actuate the four-way valve 9!? to connect the pipe I03 to the exhaust pipe II05 and to connect the supply pipe I02 to the pipe 95. Air under pressure then flows through the reducing valve 96 into the left end, as viewed in Fig. 2, of the chamber 90 in the cylinder 6i, but is prevented by the check valve .IIlI from flowing through the pipe I80 into the chamber 90. The reducing valve 96 permits the air to flow slowly into the left end of the chamber 90 so that the closure member 48 is moved slowly into engagement with the valve seat 62 to close off the thermoplastic cement. Hence, the closure member 48 is moved slowly to a closed position. elapses between the deenergization of the motor I2 and the engagement btween the closure member 48 and the valve seat 68 (Fig, 2) is equal to the period of time during which the capstan II coasts to a stop so that the flow of thermoplastic cement from the applicator I'I into the strip I5 is not stopped until the movement of the strip I5 and the cable I is stopped.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus described hereinabove, the switch H0 is closed so that the motor I2 (Fig. 4) is energized and the capstan II (Fig. 1) is driven to advance the strip I5 and t e cable I0 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, through the forming rolls Iii-I6, -20 and 25, which form the strip into a shield upon the cable. When the motor I2 (Fig. 4) is energized, the winding I of the solenoid I09 (Fig. 2) is energized and the solenoid I09 actuates the four-way valve to connect the air supply pipe I02 to the pipe I06 and to connect the exhaust pipe I05 to the pipe 95. Air under pressure then flows rapidly into the right end of the cylinder 8|, as viewed in Fig. 2, and is exhausted from the left end thereof rapidly through the pipe I00 and the check valve IOI,. whereby the piston 52 is moved rapidly to the left and the closure member 48 is moved out of engagement with the valve seat 62 and into engagement with the valve seat 65. The constant displacement pump 31 is started simultaneously with the starting of the motor I2, and forces the thermoplastic cement through the filter 42, the pipe 45, the passages 46 and in the valve body 41 and the discharge orifice 51 at a predetermined rate of flow. The

material strikes the V-shaped divider 59 and falls onto the cable I0 on both sides of the centerline thereof.

To stop the machine, the switch IIO (Fig. 3) is opened, and the capstan II, the forming rolls 25-25 and the pump 31 come gradually to a stop. This lag in the stopping of the capstan I I causes the cable I0 and the strip I5 to be advanced farther toward the left of the applicator H, as viewed in Fig. 1. Hence, if the closure member 48 (Fig. 2) were moved to a closed position immediately when the switch III) (Fig. 3) is opened, the portion of the cable I0 (Fig. 1) moved under the applicator II while the capstan II is stopping would have no cement applied thereto and would be bare when the apparatus was restarted. However, the timer I46 (Fig. 3) delays the start of the movement of the solenoid I09 and the reducing valve 96 (Fig. 2) in the pipe 95 slows the movements of the piston 52 and the closure member 48 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2,

atsaisv The total of the time that so that the passage 55 is slowly closed oil from the passage 46 and is closed off therefrom in coordination with the stopping of the capstan Ii.

Hence, the portion of the cable III (Fig. 1) moved past the applicator I! while the capstan Ii is stopping will receive substantially the same quantity of thermoplastic cement per unit of length thereof from the applicator H as has the rest of the cable I0 which has passed previously under the applicator II. When the machine is restarted, the pump 31 starts immediately, and the closure member 48 is moved rapidly to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, so that the thermoplastic cement is applied to the cable I0 at once. Hence, no bare portion of the cable I0 will be present.

The above-described apparatus is simple and effective in its operation and applies uniform quantities of thermoplastic cement to the cable W Der unit of length of the cable. The opening and closing movements of the closure member 48 are coordinated closely with the starting and stopping of the entire apparatus so that all portions of the cable core I0 passing under the applicator I! receive uniform quantities of the thermoplastic cement per unit of length of the cable core passing thereunder. The reducing valve might be opened up completely and the time delay of the timer I46 lengthened to equal that of the coasting time of the apparatus. Conversely, the time delay of the timer I46 might be reduced to zero and the needle valve 96 throttled sufficiently to make the time of closing movement of the valve stem 48 equal to the coasting time of the apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cable-forming machine including means for advancing a cable along a predetermined path, an electric motor, a power line for supplying electrical current to the motor, a switch for starting and stopping the motor, means for transmitting power from the motor to the cable-advancing means, said cable-advancing means serving to start rapidly when the motor is started and to stop slowly when the motor is stopped, a supply pipe having a discharge end and means for forcing thermoplastic cement through the supply pipe, a device for controlling the flow of thermoplastic cement through the supply pipe comprising a heated main valve body positioned adjacent to the path of the cable and being provided with a passage in communication with the discharge end of the supply pipe for directing the thermoplastic cement toward the cable, a closure member slidably mounted in the main valve body for closing off the passage therein, a cylinder having a port near the head end thereof and a second port near the other end thereof and mounted in alignment with the closure member, a piston mounted slidably in the cylinder, a piston rod connected rigidly to the piston and the closure member, a four-way valve being provided with a supply port, an exhaust port, a third port and a fourth port, a pipe for connecting the third port of the four-way valve to the firstmentioned port of the cylinder, a pipe for connecting the fourth port of the four-way valve to the other port of the cylinder, a supply .line of fluid under pressure connected to the supply port of the four-way valve, a solenoid having a winding deenergizable after the switch is operated to stop the motor, said solenoid serving when the winding thereof is energized to actuate the four-way valve to connect the supply port thereof to the fourth port thereof and the exhaust port thereof to the third part thercot.

whereby the closure member is moved to open the passage in the main valve body, said solenoid serving when the winding thereof is deenergized to actuate the four-way valve to connect the supply port thereof to the third port thereof and the exhaust port thereof to the fourth port thereof, whereby the closure member is moved to close the passage in the main valve body, and means for slowing the closing action of the closure member to coordinate the closing of the passage in the main valve body with the stopping of the cableadvancing means.

2. In a cable-forming machine including means for advancing a cable along a predetermined path, an electric motor, a power line for supplying electrical current to the motor, a switch for stopping the motor, means for transmitting power from the motor to the cable-advancing means, said cable-advancing means serving to stop slowly when the motor is stopped, a supply pipe having a discharge end and means for forcing thermoplastic cement through the supply pipe, a device for controlling the flow of thermoplastic cement through the supply pipe comprising a heated main valve body positioned adjacent to the path of the cable and being provided with a passage in communication with the discharge end of the supply pipe for directing the thermoplastic cement toward the cable, a closure member slidably mounted in the main valve body for closing oil the passage therein, a cylinder having a port near the head end thereof and a second port near the other end thereof and mounted slidably in the cylinder, a piston rod connected rigidly to the piston and the closure member, a fourway valve being provided with a supply port, an

exhaust port, a third port and a fourth port. means including a reducing valve and a check valve by-passing the reducing valve for connecting the third port of the four-way valve to the first-mentioned port of the cylinder, a pipe for connecting the fourth port of the four-way valve to the other port of the cylinder, 8. supp y line of fluid under pressure connected to the supply port of the four-way valve, and a solenoid being deenergizable when the switch is operated to stop the motor, said solenoid serving when the winding thereof is energized to actuate the four-way valve to connect the supply port thereof to the fourth port thereof and the exhaust port thereof to the third port thereof, whereby the closure member is moved to open the passage in the main valve body, said solenoid serving when the winding thereof is deenergized to actuate the fourway valve to connect the supply port thereof to the third port thereof and the exhaust port thereof to the fourth port thereof, whereby the closure member is moved to close the passage in the main valve body.

ALTON L. IDUCKS.

LEROY W. LOVE'I'I'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 306,516 Phillips et al Oct. 14, 1884 435,629 Holcombe Sept. 2, 1890 894,102 Banjock July 21, 1908 1,622,340 Paeplow Mar. 29, 1927 1,834,922 Abercrombie Dec. 8, 1931 1,839,092 Fcldmeier Dec. 29, 1931 1,861,742 Hand June 7, 1932 1,905,065 Scholl Apr. 25, 1933 1,930,557 Hughes Oct. 17, 1933 2,072,141 Stacy Mar. 2, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 60,144 Germany Dec. 8, 1931 

